Incinerator loader

ABSTRACT

A dual ram type loader that is adapted to alternately move a quantity of bulk type waste material into either one of a pair of spaced incinerators. The ram comprises essentially a pair of oppositely disposed compaction members in a single feed cylinder that are actuated intermittently to force the material into the spaced incinerators. Be selectively controlling lock means for the several compaction members either one or the other may be actuated according to any sequence of operation as may be determined by an operator or a conventional timing device.

United States Patent [191 Stockman [451 Apr. 15, 1975 INCINERATOR LOADER[75] Inventor: Richard F. Stockman, Friendship,

[73] Assignee: The Air Preheater Company, Inc.,- Wellsville, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Oct. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 405,386

[52] US. Cl. 214/23; 100/209; 100/245; 110/109; l10/l14 [51] Int. Cl.B65g 25/08 [58] Field of Search .1 214/23; 100/209, 245; 110/109, 114

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,052,944 2/1913 Osborn100/209 2,675,154 4/1954 Fishburne 100/209 3,368,478 2/1968 Clar 100/245Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. KocovskyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Wayne H. Lang [57] ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures INCINERATOR LOADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of theInvention The present invention relates to a ram type loader for anincinerator that is adapted to move waste material into either one orboth of a pair of spaced-apart but adjacent incinerators.

2. Description of Prior Art Heretofore it has been customary. if notnecessary. to provide several adjacent incinerators with separate andindependent loading devices whereby each one would be operated andcontrolled entirely independent of the other. Although such multipleapparatus was effective. it was also expensive to install and tooperate. and the total space requirement was significantly greater formultiple units than for a single unit as herein defined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above andother features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following description with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is a schematic side elevation of a dual ram type loader inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device during a phase of itsoperation. and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional crawing of the device as seen from line 3 3of FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing the numerals I0and I2 indicate a pair of spaced incinerators that are connected by asingle feed cylinder 14 that extends substantially horizontallytherebetween. At each end of the feed cylinder 14 are openings throughwhich waste material is delivered from a front end loader or similarloading mechanism. The openings are closed by loading doors 16A and 168having inner walls that comprise a substantially continuous surface withthe remainder of cylinder 14.

Compaction members 22A and 22B are slidably fitted in the ends of feedcylinder to move waste material that falls through the open doors 16Aand 168 into the adjacent incinerator chambers. The compaction members22A and 22B are generally in the form of pistons sized to form a slidingram that moves past the loading openings when said compaction membersare placed in an extended position so as to push material loaded throughdoors 16A or 168 into an adjacent incinerator.

Intermediate the compaction members 22A and 228 in cylinder 14 arepositioned a pair of oppositely disposed drive cylinders 26A and 26Bthat include therein pistons having connecting rods 28A and 288 thatconnect to their representative compaction members 22A and 228. Apressure fluid is applied to cylinders 26A and 26B behind theirrespective pistons to cause the pistons and the compaction membersconnected thereto to move horizontally in cylinder 14 to force wastematerial that has fallen into the ends thereof through open doors 16A or168 into the incinerators 10 or 12.

The drive cylinders 26A and 26B are carried by a support member 32including wheels 36A that ride on the bottom of the feed cylinder I4.The support member 32 also includes upper wheels 36B that track on theupper inside wall of feed cylinder 14 whereby the cylinders 26A and 26Bare at all times supported at a fixed axial position within the feedcylinder because of their continuous bearing opposite inner wallsthereof.

In accordance with this invention, each compaction member 22A and 22B isprovided with a special locking means whereby it may be locked againstmovement within the feed cylinder 14. When one compaction member islocked in this manner. the other compaction member is free to movelongitudinally in cylinder I4 an amount equal to the stroke of bothactuating cylinders 26A and 268 in response to the inlet of an actuatingfluid.

As one compaction member is moved an amount equal to the stroke of bothpistons in their respective cylinders 26A and 26B. the support member 32is moved along the axis of the cylinder I4 an amount equal to the strokeof the single piston that is connected to the locked compaction member.

The "lock" may consist of a simple pin 40 or the like inserted throughmatching openings 20 in the stop and in either one of the compactionmembers ZZA or 228 that corresponds when completely withdrawn againstthe stop 25. Various equivalent locking means may be provided withoutamountingto invention, and the pins 40 are only symbolic of the lockingmeans shown.

In operation of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing.two or more incinerators with a single loading cylinder therebetween aresupplied with a quantity of waste material through open loading doors16A or 16B. A pin 40 is placed through aligned openings 20 in a stop 25and compaction member 22B whereby the member 22B is locked against axialmovement. Valve 48 in supply line 55 for pressure fluid is opened andpressure fluid is permitted to flow into the left hand end of cylinder26A and on the right hand end of cylinder 268.

As pressure fluid flows into cylinder 26A. the piston therein moves tothe right and the piston in cylinder 26B moves to the left. but inasmuchas compaction member 228 is locked. the entire carriage 32 moves to theleft and only the compaction member 22A moves to the left. Similarly.fluid flowing to the right hand end of cylinder 26A and the left handend of cylinder 26B through valve 52 and pressure line 50 forces thepistons in both cylinders to withdraw the position shown in FIG. Iwhereby both compaction members 22A and 22B are abutting theirrespective stops 25. No special means for venting the pressure fluidfrom cylinders 26A or 268 is here shown inasmuch as natural leakagearound the pistons and from the cylinder will alone provide satisfactoryoperation.

If the locking means should be used to lock compaction member 22Arelative to cylinder 14, the compaction member 22B would similarly bemoved to the right an amount equal to the movement of the pistons incylinders 26A and 268.

While only a single type of locking mechanism has been shown for theseveral compaction members. and only a single arrangement for supportingand moving the support structure has been shown. other equivalent meansmay be substituted therefor without resorting to invention. It istherefore intended that all material shown in the accompanying drawingor described in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for selectively moving a quantity of refuse into either ofa pair of spaced chambers comprising an elongate feed cylinder betweenchambers. loading openings located at opposite ends of said feedcylinder adjacent each of the spaced chambers for loading refusetherein. a pair of axially movable compaction members in said elongatecylinder intermediate the loading openings. means for moving thecompaction members axially in said cylinder to push waste material fromsaid loading openings into the spaced chambers including a single pairof oppositely disposed drive cylinders intermediate the compactionmembers. axially movable drive means in said drive cylinders connectedat their outboard ends to the compaction members for moving compactionmembers axially in said feed cylinder. means supporting said drivecylinders for movement freely along the longitudinal axis of the feedcylinder. a source of driving fluid. means supplying the driving fluidto each of said cylinders. and means for locking one of the compactionmembers relative to said feed cylinder whereby the drive means will movethe unlocked compaction member along the longitudinal axis of the feedcylinder substantially equal to the sum of the longitudinal distancetraveled by both driving means within their respective cylinders.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means supporting saiddrive cylinders comprises support structure having substantiallyfriction-free contact with the inner wall of the feed cylinder.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means supporting thedrive cylinders includes support structure that simultaneously contactsopposite sides of the feed cylinder to provide longitudinal stabilitywhen moving along the axis of said feed cylinder.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including closure means that closethe loading openings in the feed cylinder.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the inner wall of saidclosure means has a surface whose contours are similar to those of saidelongate feed cylinders to provide a continuous housing for thecompaction members that are axially movable therein.

1. Apparatus for selectively moving a quantity of refuse into either ofa pair of spaced chambers comprising an elongate feed cylinder betweenchambers, loading openings located at opposite ends of said feedcylinder adjacent each of the spaced chambers for loading refusetherein, a pair of axially movable compaction members in said elongatecylinder intermediate the loading openings, means for moving thecompaction members axially in said cylinder to push waste material fromsaid loading openings into the spaced chambers including a single pairof oppositely disposed drive cylinders intermediate the compactionmembers, axially movable drive means in said drive cylinders connectedat their outboard ends to the compaction members for moving compactionmembers axially in said feed cylinder, means supporting said drivecylinders for movement freely along the longitudinal axis of the feedcylinder, a source of driving fluid, means supplying the driving fluidto each of said cylinders, and means for locking one of the compactionmembers relative to said feed cylinder whereby the drive means will movethe unlocked compaction member along the longitudinal axis of the feedcylinder substantially equal to the sum of the longitudinal distancetraveled by both driving means within their respective cylinders. 2.Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means supporting said drivecylinders comprises support structure having substantially friction-freecontact with the inner wall of the feed cylinder.
 3. Apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein the means supporting the drive cylindersincludes support structure that simultaneously contacts opposite sidesof the feed cylinder to provide longitudinal stability when moving alongthe axis of said feed cylinder.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1including closure means that close the loading openings in the feedcylinder.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the inner wall ofsaid closure means has a surface whose contours are similar to those ofsaid elongate feed cylinders to provide a continuous housing for thecompaction members that are axially movable therein.